Paul Bailey on Sue Townsend: 'She believed in good manners and kindness'

In 1988, Alan Bennett, Craig Raine, Christopher Hope, Timothy Mo, Sue Townsend and I were treated to lunch at the Georgian State restaurant in Moscow by the Great Britain-USSR society. The food was eatable and there was plenty of wine and beer. The waiters were friendly. Since we had no commitments that evening, some of us decided to return to this haven of civilisation.

Those same waiters who had been courteous a few hours earlier were now surly and off-handed. The most inviting lunchtime dishes were no longer available and our requests for wine and beer were greeted with disdain.